Detox-Fit™

Tag: vegan

Cellulite is the dimpled appearance of the skin that occurs when fat deposits push through the connective tissue beneath the skin. It’s usually found on areas such as hips, thighs, stomach, arms, and buttocks. As hormones play a strong role in cellulite is much more common in women than in men.

The question that everybody wants answered is “can you actually get rid of cellulite?”

Well, while certainly there isn’t something such as a magical quick fix out there, there are a few important factors to take into account:

Lifestyle: it doesn’t matter if cellulite runs in your family and if it has a strong genetic background – lifestyle *can* have a tremendous impact on its appearance. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Get active! Aim to exercise at least 4 days a week for about 1 hour.

Exercise: do it right! Cardiovascular exercise will help to eliminate toxins, while strength and weight training will help to achieve muscle toning, which comes with a subsequent skin firming effect. Do *not* focus on cardiovascular training, but on strength/weight training and HIIT.

Hormones: the best advise we can give you is this – stop eating hormones! We already have plenty of hormones doing their thing in our body, the last thing you want is to actually eat hormones and build your cells with them. We are talking animal hormones. Eating animal products = eating animal hormones. It goes hand in hand. One can’t possibly eat animal flesh or products and avoid eating the hormones that come with it. Dairy is packed with at least 60 natural hormones, including actual estrogen, from lactating mother cows. The same applies for eggs (they are produced in hens’ ovaries as part of their ovulatory cycles, after all), and for all animal flesh, as it *always* contains natural hormones, and 95% of the times also includes more added extra growth hormones. All these hormones are toxic, we certainly don’t need them, and cause more harm in our system that you would think.

Processed food: the less toxic foods the better. All those fake and highly processed and sugary “foods” aren’t doing our body any favors. Not in the inside, and not in the outside. There are always healthier replacements out there to satisfy your sweet cravings. The beauty of it is that, once you allow your body to “detox” and cleanse itself from nasty foods such as sodas, crisps, dairy chocolates, sugary sweets, etc, you won’t even want to have them anymore, as your body and mind will know how much better you feel without them.

Contraceptive pills: just like with the animal hormones, hormonal contraceptives may cause/worsen cellulite to form. Again, it’s because of the presence of estrogen. Our tip: do stay away from pills and avoid getting preggo in a different way. Easy!

Massage, laser and other fancy machines: the anti-cellulite market is oversaturated with devices, techniques and varied mumbo-jumbo that promise to get rid of cellulite. Most of these don’t work, yet are very effective at taking weight off your wallet, but do feel free to do your research by all means if you like. Whatever you do, don’t fall for hazardous and risky methods... and don’t lose a fortune on it. Some of these techniques may be helpful, but they will mean nothing if you aren’t willing to tackle and fix the root of the problem: your lifestlyle.

Patience: it’s important to understand that cellulite took its time to form; i happened gradually, due to a combination of factors. It isn’t realistic to expect for it to disappear overnight – do the right things and… be patient.

The truth is that, most likely, you many never be able to get 100% rid of all the cellulite. Why? Because this is how the body is. Having some cellulite is normal, and it’s fine. We all have fat cells, some just happen to show this way, specially in women. Small amounts of cellulite shouldn’t be seen as a “disease of the obese” or something pathological. The problem is when the cellulite is obvious and in large amounts, as then it clearly indicates a lifestyle issue and that some simple adjustments are needed.

The good news is that there is something you can certainly do to stop it from developing/getting worse or to improve its condition: do stick to the most powerful tools, which happen to be FREE and available and your fingertips right now:

Your lifestyle = What you put into your body (Nutrition) + What you do with your body (Exercise)

Nowadays it’s common for people to be overly acidic. An overly acidic body is known as acidosis – at some point the body can’t function properly as it should and this can lead to many health issues, including depression, joint paint, heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.

When the pH goes off, oxygen delivery to cells suffers, constructive enzymes become destructive, and microbial looking forms in the blood can mutate shape, mirror pathogenicity and grow.

Total healing of some chronic illness is indeed possible, and can take place when the blood is restored to an alkaline pH. This can be achieved by nurturing your body with the right food, something very important to those fighting a disease or overcoming an illness, but also to those who just want to feel better and be healthier both now and in the long run.

The most alkaline foods are whole plant foods, and the most acidic & inflammatory foods are all those coming from animal sources and others such as alcohol, refined grains, highly processed foods, sugar, sodas, and junk food.

The key is to eat focusing around naturally more alkaline foods like greens, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, raw nuts and seeds (versus roasted), beans and legumes – yes, all the super-foods! These foods are packed with healthy phytonutrients, health boosting and protecting antioxidants & fiber. Herbs and spices are also more alkaline, anti-inflammatory and boost immune function just like whole foods do.

Once you get to balance you pH you will start to notice positive improvements such as:

less pain from inflammation related conditions such as arthritis.

easier fat loss.

better digestion in general.

increased energy levels.

better mental focus and better mood.

What about some of those healthy whole foods that are acidic by nature like lemons and oranges? Are they bad for us?

No, not at all, and here’s why: whole plant foods are always naturally more alkaline; they contribute to an alkaline body when a balanced, healthy plant-based diet is followed, so a certain plant being slightly less alkaline than another won’t affect your health as much as the acidic foods will. Furthermore, once these naturally “acidic” plant-based foods’ minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc) enter our bloodstream and mix with our blood they actually alkalize the body.

Many people have seen their health dramatically improved, and also diseases reversed after following a balanced plant-based nutrition.

If you haven’t seen it yet, do check out the outstanding documentary “Forks over Knives” to learn more.

Where do you get YOUR protein? Instead of worrying about how much protein we are getting, we should actually focus more on the SOURCES of our protein. Protein in our foods comes packaged together with other things that can either be harmful or healthful, depending on the source.

These compounds are linked to inflammation, atherosclerosis, tumor cell growth, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, endocrine disruption, unhealthy weight gain, increased acid load, & negative changes in our gut bacteria. Even when we buy organic or grass-fed, we still get almost all of these noxious elements – they are inherent to the foods themselves.

With the Marathon looming it seems to be all anybody is talking about (or at least posting about on Instagram!) And with so many people running year after year, many are looking for that change in their training to give them an edge. Detox-Fit, a leading London fitness brand specialising in personal training, encourages one key difference to make to your training – a Vegan diet.

There seems to have been a lot of hype to the Vegan diet – or should I say, lifestyle – recently, with the magnitude of Veganuary and a rapidly growing collection of people making the change. With so many athletes now swearing by a Vegan diet as well, maybe it’s something more of us should be looking into?
Evany Ibáñez-Banczer, co-director and co-founder of Detox-Fit, and author of “Run, Little Benjamin, Run!” explains why a Vegan diet is not only good for your overall health, but can give you that edge you need in the lead up to the marathon.

Improved Cardiovascular HealthUsing meat and dairy products as main sources of protein results in high levels of saturated fats and clogged arteries. A plant-based diet of whole grains, beans, legumes and vegetables, however, will lower cholesterol, clear arteries, decrease plaque in your blood vessels, and provide protein and antioxidants to give you a cardiovascular system that will have you running longer and training harder.

Improved Digestive SystemLoading up on calories through meat and dairy can leave you feeling full and bloated – bad news for a runner! A Vegan diet, however, is naturally high in fibre and nutrient rich, which helps support digestive health by keeping your body running smoothly while providing all the nutrition needed for a long race. PDCAASYes, a Vegan diet provides all the necessary protein and amino acids needed for training. Numerous studies, as well as professional athletes, are now experiencing huge benefits from plant-based proteins such as rice and pea. These proteins are proven to provide a Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) equivalent to the PDCAAS of whey protein, without whey protein’s digestion difficulties and high acidity.

Improved RecoveryThe go-to sources to promote recovery are often meat and eggs. However, these animal products also produce high levels of acidity in the body, which can affect the pH level in your blood and lead to inflammation – thus, impeding recovery. Plant-based sources of protein, however, react differently in the body, producing an alkaline instead which improves recovery by lowering inflammation.

Improved Physique MaintenanceSince a Vegan diet isn’t packed full of saturated fat and, largely speaking, involves less processed food, maintaining an athlete’s physique becomes easier without a great deal of effort. A well-balanced diet is still important, and too many sugary snacks will be detrimental, but a Vegan diet encourages a healthier way of thinking and drastically limits your intake of food which could hinder your progress.

Professional Athletes Do It!Lauren Goss, a professional triathlete who only recently converted to a Vegan diet now swears by it for her training, reporting she now sleeps better, recovers faster, has more energy and less digestive stress.
Scott Jureck, author of “Eat & Run” and a vegan ultra-runner, explains he tried going Vegan purely to run faster and it worked. Running the Minnesota Voyageur 50-mile race three times before he won, Jureck says his Vegan diet was the key difference, after realising he could run smarter by eating smarter.

And finally, Ross Edgley, a professional endurance athlete, who famously ran 30 marathons in 30 days on a treadmill in his kitchen, goes Vegan before all of his events, explaining that animal protein requires more effort to digest and a plant-based diet is beneficial to his cardiovascular as well as overall health and immune function.

When an individual egg company wants to run an ad campaign, they can say whatever they want, but if an egg corporation wants to dip into the 10 million dollars the American Egg Board sets aside for advertising, as the board is overseen by the federal government, corporations are not allowed to lie with those funds – epic stuff, eh?!

Check this out: By law, it’s illegal to advertise eggs as healthy or nutritious. As stated by the USDA “The egg industry needs to steer clear of words like healthy or nutritious.” This is the USDA talking!

However, the USDA helpfully suggests, “you can say eggs are naturally nutrient dense.” Wait a second why can you say eggs are nutrient dense but not nutritious? Aha, it’s because there’s no legal definition of “nutrient dense.” You can say Coca-Cola is nutrient dense, but legally, you can’t say something is nutritious unless it’s actually… nutritious.

Egg corporations aren’t allowed to say things like “Eggs are an important part of a well balanced, healthy diet”

“Nutritional powerhouse” can’t be used.

Can’t portray eggs as a diet food because of the saturated fat and cholesterol content. In fact they have nearly twice the calories of anything that can be called low-calorie.

Instead of weight loss ads can go with “can reduce hunger.” See these clowns’ cleverness? Yeah, a food that when eaten can reduce hunger – what a groundbreaking concept.

Can’t say eggs are good for you.

Can’t say eggs are low in saturated fat—they’re not.

Can’t say they’re relative low in fat – they’re not!

Can’t call them a rich source of protein – they’re not!

Can’t say eggs are “nutritious” at all – Eggs have so much cholesterol you can’t even say they contribute nutritionally.

Can’t say eggs are healthful. “All references to healthfulness must be deleted.”

Can’t say eggs are healthy, as they contain significant amounts of fat & cholesterol, which contributes to the leading killer in the Western, heart disease.

As they can’t say eggs are a healthy start to the day, the USDA suggests “a satisfying start.” Ha, nice one.

They can’t even refer to eggs as safe – “All references to safety must be removed” because more than a hundred thousand Americans are Salmonella poisoned every year from eggs. Also because of avian influenza. “Instead of safe you can call eggs fresh,” the USDA marketing service helpfully suggests.

The industry doesn’t say the truth about the poor hens that lay the eggs. The American Egg Board states “Do not show multiple birds in cages-they look too crowded and open us up to activist criticism.” In other words, DO NOT SHOW THE TRUTH TO THE PUBLIC.

Wait a second: Eggs can’t be called healthy and safe? Says who… Says the egg industry and the US Department of Agriculture.

A report published in December 2013 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) links 70% of human diseases to animal agriculture. The report also points out the astonishingly high use of antibiotics given to farm animals to promote growth and compensate for the filthy conditions the poor animals live and are killed in. Just in the US the farm animals which will be turned into food needless food products are given about 80% of the total antibiotics supply. This brings in an extra price to pay: Antibiotic-resistant superbugs, which are increasingly on the rise, with now more than 2 million people in the US contracting drug-resistant infections annually.

✔The key is that, biologically speaking, our bodies have ZERO dietary requirement for eating animals and the things that come out of them (their maternal milk and eggs.) Yes, this applies to virtually every human in the world, as no human has yet been born with an inherent biological need to eat pigs, cows or drink their maternal milk. Not only our bodies don’t require any animal products at all, these have been conclusively proven to have a potentially detrimental effect in our health. And lethal. Animal protein has been specifically linked to increased cancer risks, and giving up dairy is one of the best things a person can do to decrease their risks of developing cancer or experiencing cancer cell growth. Just when a little of animal protein is included Animal protein “turns on” cancer. Risk of disease goes up dramatically when even a little animal protein is added to the diet.” –Dr. T. Colin Campbell (The China Study)

ℹAnimal products are naturally highly acidic. Our bodies thrive in an alkaline environment. Cancer and disease thrives in acidic environments, yet they cannot survive in an alkaline one. Animal protein is also laden with cholesterol, saturated and trans fats, has no fiber or antioxidants, and is nutritionally poor for our needs. We’ve seen people whose arthritis disappeared after being on a healthy vegan diet for just 6 weeks, others seeing their “mysterious” inflammatory issues going away after giving up all animal protein, general health, energy and fitness performance vastly improving, and even cancers disappearing after following 100% plant-based nutrition.

Frankly, when you look at the simple nutritional facts and the effects that each one of these have in your body, there’s no contest here.

Beans are highly nutrient-dense and packed with health boosting and protecting phytonutrients, fibre and antioxidants. Fibre is an essential nutrient for digestion and cancer prevention, yet it’s estimated that about 97% of people are deficient in it. We repeat – 97%! They are also high in complex carbohydrates -which are (or certainly should be) the first and main source of sustained release of energy for both our body and mind-, low in fat, calories and sodium, and completely cholesterol-free. Beans are also an outstanding source of healthy and protein that it’s optimally digested and absorbed by the human body. Basically, when you eat beans, you are nurturing your body with goodness, not nasty stuff, not potential detrimental health consequences.

When it comes to eating pieces of cow (or beef, as some insist on calling it), the story changes dramatically. Like all animal protein, cows’ flesh is a highly acidic protein, which is also laden with fats, cholesterol, isn’t optimally digested by our body and has a very poor nutritional value. A shocking 80% of the calories you get from it come from mostly saturated fats, while 0% calories come from complex carbohydrates. It also contains natural animal hormones, including animal oestrogens, which are directly linked to some types of cancers. Additionally, the cows that will be turned into meat products are usually also given extra added hormones, antibiotics and stereoids. Cow flesh also forms heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are chemicals formed when muscle meat such as that from cows, pigs, fish, or chickens, is cooked at high temperatures. This has been conclusively proven to both cause and increase the risk of cancer, and is even acknowledged in several cancer resource websites.

To top it all off, eating cows’ flesh currently stands in the Group 2A on the IARC Carcinogenic Classification Groups as a highly probable carcinogenic, together with eating pigs and lambs, just one spot below Group 1, which includes meats such as bacon, sausages and salami as confirmed carcinogens, together with smoking and asbestos. We have no doubt that the cow, pig and lamb meats currently sitting in Group 2A will be also moving up to Group 1 soon, and thus officially confirmed as a carcinogen too.

When you look at things with common sense it’s easy to realize that, in any case, we are not meant to eat cows. It doesn’t matter how obsessed one is with eating peppered steaks and cow meatballs, the simple truth is that no human would be able to kill a cow with their bare hands. Let alone rip their raw flesh off and chew on it as it is. Still, your body physiology and behaviour will remain to be the number one evidence that confirms that it won’t be able to digest it and deal with it effectively.

Indeed, when you eat pieces of cows you aren’t doing your body any favours, and you certainly are causing more harm than good. There are much better options out there that actually don’t involve eating any animal carcasses, but just real vibrant food that is packed with nutrients and goodness.

When it comes to beans, there are many different ways to enjoy them: in burritos, in burger shape, in curries, salads, stews, spreads, purees, etc… Follow our lead and #gobeanyourself

Your body, health and the cows will be grateful for it – That’s a promise!

People go plant-based for lots of reasons. These include reducing the risk of heart disease, losing weight, feeling more energetic, improving fitness performance, decreasing the number of pills they take, for ethical reasons… there are many great reasons!

For even more inspiration, check out Dr. Michelle McMacken’s latest fantastic piece, as published on Forks Over Knives, which goes through 7 benefits you can expect when you go plant-based:

1- You’ll reduce inflammation in your body:Eating meat, cheese and highly processed foods = elevated levels of inflammation in the body. While short-term inflammation (such as after an injury) is normal and necessary, inflammation that lasts for months or years is not. Chronic inflammation has been linked to the development of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases, among other conditions. In contrast, plant-based diets are naturally anti-inflammatory as they are high in fiber, antioxidants & phytonutrients.

2- Your blood cholesterol levels will plummet: Elevated blood cholesterol = a key risk factor for heart disease and strokes. Saturated fat—primarily found in meat, poultry, cheese, and other animal products—is a major driver of our blood cholesterol levels When you go plant based blood cholesterol levels drop by up to 35% Whole-food, plant-based diets reduce blood cholesterol because they tend to be very low in saturated fat and they contain zero cholesterol. Moreover, plant-based diets are high in fiber, which further reduces blood cholesterol levels. Soy has also been shown to play a role in lowering cholesterol, for those who choose to include it.

3- You’ll give your microbiome (the trillions of microorganisms living in your body) a makeover:These microorganisms help us digest food, produce critical nutrients, train our immune system, turn genes on and off, keep our gut tissue healthy, and help protect us from cancer. Studies have also shown they play a role in obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and liver disease.

Plant foods help shape a healthy intestinal microbiome. The fiber in plant foods promotes the growth of “friendly” bacteria in our guts. On the other hand, fiber-poor diets (such as those that are high in dairy, eggs, and meat) can foster the growth of disease-promoting bacteria. Ittakes only a few days for our gut bacterial patterns to change – the benefits of a plant-based diet start quickly!

4- You’ll change how your genes work:The antioxidants & other nutrients in whole plant foods can change gene expression to optimize how our cells repair damaged DNA. We’ve even seen that a plant-based diet, along with other lifestyle changes, can lengthen our telomeres—the caps at the end of our chromosomes that help keep our DNA stable. This might mean that our cells and tissues age more slowly, since shortened telomeres are associated with aging and earlier death.

5- You’ll reduce chances of getting type 2 diabetes:Animal protein has been shown in study after study to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. In the Adventist population, omnivores have double the rate of diabetes compared with vegans, even accounting for differences in body weight. In fact, in this population, eating meat once a week or more over a 17-year period increased the risk of diabetes by 74%! Similarly, in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and Nurses Health Study, increasing red meat intake by more than just half a serving per day was associated with a 48% increased risk in diabetes over 4 years.

You will dramatically lessen your chances of getting type 2 diabetes by leaving animal products off of your plate and eating a diet based in whole plant foods. This is especially true if you eat whole grains, which are highly protective against type 2 diabetes. You read that right: carbs actually protect you from diabetes! Also, a plant-based diet can improve or even reverse your diabetes if you’ve already been diagnosed.

6- You’ll get the right amount -and the right type- of protein:Contrary to popular perception, this excess protein does not make us stronger or leaner. Excess protein is stored as fat or turned into waste, and animal protein is a major cause of weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, inflammation, and cancer.

On the other hand, the protein found in whole plant foods protects us from many chronic diseases. There is no need to track protein intake or use protein supplements with plant-based diets; if you are meeting your daily calorie needs, you will get plenty of protein. The longest-lived people on Earth, those living in the “Blue Zones,” get about 10% of their calories from protein, compared with the US average of 15-20%.

7- You’ll make a huge impact on the health of our planet and its inhabitants:Animal agriculture is extremely destructive to the planet. It is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and is a leading cause of land and water use, deforestation, wildlife destruction, and species extinction. About 2,000 gallons of water are needed to produce just one pound of beef. Our oceans are rapidly becoming depleted of fish; by some estimates, oceans may be fishless by 2048. The current food system, based on meat and dairy production, also contributes to world hunger—the majority of crops grown worldwide go toward feeding livestock, not feeding people. Just the food that we put aside every year to fatten up animals to turn them into food products could feed about 11 billion people.

Equally important, animals raised for food are sentient beings who suffer, whether raised in industrial factory farms or in farms labelled “humane.” Eating a plant-based diet helps us lead a more compassionate life. After all, being healthy is not just about the food we eat; it’s also about our consciousness—our awareness of how our choices affect the planet and all of those with whom we share it.

Have you ever heard of “fecal soup”? Over 130 million chickens are killed every day worldwide to be turned into products. During processing the chicken corpses are disemboweled and later soaked in a chill tank before being packaged and sent to distributors.

A federal inspector said, “We often see birds going down the line with intestines still attached, which are full of fecal contamination. If there is no fecal contamination on the bird’s skin, however, we can do nothing to stop that bird from going down that line. It is more than reasonable to assume that once the bird gets into the chill tank, that contamination will enter the water and contaminate all of the other carcasses in the chiller. That’s why it’s called ‘fecal soup.’”

Tests carried out have shown that fecal bacteria tested positive and as present in nearly 50% of the samples. High cooking heat to cook the chickens’ flesh does not remove the feces – it merely cooks it along with the muscle tissue.

See below a list with the 5 worst contaminants in chicken products:

1. Feces: Chickens can soak in “fecal soup” for up to an hour before being packaged for consumers.

2. Toxic chemicals: Peracetic acid and chlorine are both commonly used to treat chicken for contaminants.

3. Superbugs: Nearly 75% of bacterially tainted chicken products harbour germs resistant to one or more types of antibiotics.

4. Carcinogens: Arsenic in chicken can increase the risk of lung and bladder cancer deaths.

5. Cholesterol: Both 4 ounces of cow and 4 ounces of chicken contain approximately 100 mg of cholesterol.

Funny how none of these are ever shown on the labels, right?

When it comes to fat, there is this persistent myth that says that chicken meat is low in fat, which in fact isn’t true as typical chicken servings are about 50% fat, 30% of it saturated, which stimulates the body’s production of cholesterol. Regarding nutritional value chicken has pretty much zero, no fiber and no antioxidants.

It should be compulsory for these nasty products to come in accurately and honestly labelled packages, to inform consumers that they are very likely eating feces and several other contaminants. And also showing pictures of what the animals go through before becoming a product, instead of showing deceiving fantasy cartoon images of happy smiling chickens dancing and saying “eat me, I’m cheap.”